If you're looking for something fun to do with the kids this Easter long weekend, the B.C. Society of Model Engineers is running miniature train rides through Confederation Park till Monday.
The society is celebrating its 20th anniversary at the Confederation site, and the train rides start today and run every weekend until Thanksgiving.
"You're never too old to play with trains," said longtime society member Ian MacGregor. "And by the way, we build all these things. It's real engineering, but one-eighth of the full size."
The B.C. Society of Model Engineers formed in 1929 and is one of the oldest model engineering societies in North America, MacGregor said.
Members spend their time volunteering to give train rides, working on steam engine replicas and maintaining the tracks.
The society has been in the city for more than 35 years and was originally based at Burnaby Village Museum but moved to Confederation Park 20 years ago.
"We rebuilt this site, literally. We transformed (it), we got mountains and tunnels, and we've got bridges. It's close to two miles of track," MacGregor said.
The Confederation Park train station opens Friday, March 29, to Monday, April 1, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The train rides are $2.50 for a 12-to 15-minute ride. Children under three ride for free. The station is at 120 North Willingdon Ave.
"Best deal in town," MacGregor said.
According to MacGregor, the society gave 52,000 rides last year. People love it, MacGregor said, and some parents and grandparents who rode the train as children bring the kids and grandkids.
"It's a huge amount of fun," MacGregor said.
For more info, visit bcsme.org.
